Green Party pays tribute to founding member

Ms. Mullarney was a founding member of the Green Party and a member of Dublin County Council for eight years.

Minister Gormley said: "I am very saddened to hear of the death of Máire today. Máire was a huge influence on the development of the party and her work in the areas of education and language, influenced the Party greatly. Máire's tenacity and enthusiasm were infectious. She served on Dublin County Council along with my ministerial colleague Trevor Sargent and was always popular with members across all parties. She will be remembered affectionately as a loyal and dedicated member of the Green Party and as one of Ireland's most original thinkers."

Speaking on behalf of Green Party staff and members, Green Party General Secretary Colm O Caomhanaigh said: "It is with great sadness that we learn of the passing of Máire Mullarney. She inspired many members of the Green Party down through the years with her great enthusiasm and radical thinking."
Máire was one of the original Green Party members who first met in the Central Hotel in December 1981. A nurse, journalist and author, Máire's bestselling book 'Anything school can do, you can do better' was hugely influential in the concept of home schooling. Throughout the 1980s, Máire represented the Party at European Green Party meetings, which inspired her work on the language Esperanto. She published 'Esperanto for Hope' in 1989. She was also a founder member of the Irish Family Planning Association.